Mail-classifying machine.



J. REHAK. MAIL CLASSIFYING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 5, 1911.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented May 6, 1913.

J. RBHAK. MAIL ULASSIFYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1911.

1,060,943. Patented May 6, 1913.

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Patented May 6,1913.

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J. REHAK. MAIL GLASSIFYING MACHINE. APPLIOATIONIILED JUNE 5, 1911.

Patented May 6, 1913.

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6 %N\ W M VVjUM Q%\ EN Qx 3 mN\ SQ 3 RN\ N x3 Q QQ MK \fi Q\ QM! M H HUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BEE AK, OF CICERO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB- TO THE B. F. CUMMINSCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MAIL-CLASSIFYING MACHINE.

Application filed June 5, 1911. Serial No. 631,235.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, JAMES REHAK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cicero, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-ClassifyingMachines, of which the following is a description, reference being hadtothe accompanying drawings, for'ming a part of this specification, inwhich corresponding reference-numerals in the different figures indicatelike parts.

My invention relates to apparatus for automatically facilitating theclassification and conveyance to distinctive points for distribution ofvarious articles requiring speedy and. accurate classification, and isintended more especially for use in ost-oflices in the separation andtransfer of mail to distinctive rooms or points therein according to itsseveral destinations.

Heretofore it has been customary for a number of clerks to whom thecanceled outgoing mail is delivered, to assort said mail and deposit itin pigeon holes for specific States, localities or countries. This mailso separated, is taken from the pigeon holes by other clerks, carried tothe other points and there further separated and classified according tothe mail routes of the respective States or countries. 'This practicenecessitates frequent interruption in the work of the asserting clerksresulting in much confusion and loss of time.

The object of my invention is to overcome these difliculties and toavoid unnecessary delay by providing an apparatus whereby articles maybe simultaneously separated by a large number of operatives, each ofwhom is free to do his work independently of the others and withoutinterruption; said apparatus being so constructed and arranged as tosimultaneously act in conjunction with all of the operators to carry thearticles to their respective destinations in a given office so withoutfurther handling,

that they may be at once transferred to mailbags or other receptacles orconveyances all of whlch 1s hereinafter more particularly described anddefinitely pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1, is a Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented May 6, 1913.

view showing a front elevation of the appa-' ratus, Fig. 2, is avertical sectional vlew thereof taken upon the line 2, Fig. 3 viewed inthe direction of the arrow there shown. Fig. 3, is a horizontalsectional'view in plan, taken upon the line 3 3, Fig. 1, Fig. 4, is anenlarged vertical sectional view in detail of one of the chutes saidview being taken upon the line 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 5, is a like view takenupon the line 5, Fig. 4:, Fig. 6, is a side elevation of a portion ofsaid apparatus showing the driving, separating, stacking and a portionof the conveying mechanism leading thereto, Fig. 7, is a plan viewthereof, Fig. 8, is a plan view of a modified construction showinghorizontal sections of portions of a series of conveyors together withthe respective compartments or receptacles with which they communicate,Fig. 9, is a front elevation showing a modified construction, Fig. 10,is a horizontal sectional view thereof taken upon line 10, Fig. 9, andFig. 11, is an enlarged detail view in perspective showing the manner ofconstructing the collapsible pigeon holes. I,

Referring to the drawings, 1, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, indicates a portion ofa case or section, 2 a complete case, and 3a portion of a case all ofwhich are uniform in construction and are arranged in alinement witheach other.

The description of one section will sufiice for the several duplicates,an indefinite number of which may be employed and I will thereforedescribe section 2 as the counterpart and representative of the others.

The front of each section is composed of a number of vertical panels 4,5, 6 and 7 respectively, Figs. 1, 2 and'3, located in different verticalplanes, whilethe back 8 may be in a straight line. A ledge 9 in front atthe bottom of the panels may serve as a temporary support for articlesto be classified. Between each of'the adjacent sections is a panel 10,which serves as a support for the shaft bearings of parts of theconveying mechanism as hereinafter stated.

Each section is provided with a plurality of horizontal rows of chutes.In the example given I have shown four of such rows although the numbermay be varied. Each chute in a given section is intended to communicatewith a separate conveying conduit, upon the same level, while eachconduit upon said level is common: to one chute upon each sectionlocated upon said level. The purpose of this arrangement is to enable anumber of operators in different sections to transmit mail to a givendestination at the same time by dropping it into corresponding chutesall of which communicate with the conduit leading to that destination.This requires a special arrangement and construction of the severalchutes together with means for preventing mail-pieces from clogging asthey pass those chutes in advance of those into which they are dropped.The several chutes are of substantially the same shape I spending to thebelt 24, as there are hon- .zontal rows of "chutes in an and differ onlyin length to enable them to extend to the respective conduits with whichthey are intended to communicate. The construction of said chutes isbetter shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 in which 11 indicates a funnelshaped mouth, 12 a top wall, 13 a vertical wall, 14 a downwardlyinclined front wall and 15 and 16 respectively side walls, the latter ofwhich is cut away as shown at 17, for the purpose hereinafter stated.

The upper horizontal row of chutes, bettershown in-Figs. 2 and 3, aredesignated generally as 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 respectively, and thelower ends or spouts thereof are located in different vertical planes.

An endless horizontal belt 24 is mounted upon end rollers one of which,25, is shown in Fig. 7, while the intermediate portions of said belt aresupported upon rollers 26 having their shafts mounted in bearings 27 inthe rear wall 8, and the panels 10. In order to economize space and holdthe lower portion of the belt up close to the other, I

- provide rollers 28 upon opposite sides of the roller 26, as moreclearly shown in Fig. 1, so that the upper and lower portions of saidbelt are caused to run very closely together without touching.

Extending lengthwise of the conveyer belt are a series of verticalpartitions 29, 30, 31, 32 33, 34 and 35, which serve respectively as sie walls for conduits 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41. The discharge openingsof all of the chutes in a given horizontal row are upon a common levelimmediately above the belt and are preferably arranged to communicatewith said conduit in the following orderzthe chutes 18 and 19 with theconduits 36 and 37, 20 and 21 with the conduits 40 and 39, and 22 and 23with the conduits 41 and 38 respectively. When an article is droppedinto a chute it falls upon the belt 24, and is carried therebyoutthrough the opening below the side wall 16 in the'chute and thence alongthe conduitto its destinarollers 71, 72, a stacking cam 73 tion ashereinafter described. Inasmuch however as the ends of the chutes are bypreference caused to project downwardly into the conduits, 1t is notonly essential thatthe discharge portions thereof be made narrower thanthe width of said conduits but that means should be provided within theconduits for preventing passing articles carried upon the belt frombeingbrought into contact with said chutes as they pass the successivesections. In the example illustrated,"the,belt 24is intended to be movedfrom ri ht to left; and upon the right side of each 0 ute there isextended at an acute angle fromthe partition :wall to the rear wallof'each chute a short :defl'ecting wall 42, Fig. 3.

There are as many conveying belts oorre 'ven section. I have generallydesignate t e horizontal rows of chutes shown in Figs. 1 and 2, asidefrom that described, as 43, 44 and 45 which .communicate uponcorresponding levels,

with conveyer belts 46, 47, and 48 respec- 'tively which, with theirconnecting parts. correspond in every respect to the be t 24 The belt 48is driven by means of a rollei upon the shaft 49, Fig. 7, a pulley 50,upon said shaft being connected with any suitable source of power. Avertical shaft 51, Figs.

6 and 7 which is driven by means of miter gears 52 and 53, Fig. 6,serves through like gears 54 and 55, 56 and 57 and 58 and 59respectively, to drive the belts 46, 47 and 24.

Each of the several conveyer belts leads to a series of separating andstacking devices located in operative proximity thereto and uponcorrespondin levels therewith. A description of one wi l sufiice forall.

Upon a level with the upper face of the conveyer belt 24 is a shelf orsupport 60, upon which is located a separating roller 61,

,mounted upon avertical shaft 62, and driven i to conform to thedirection of movement of the conveyer belt. An idler roller '63, islikewise mounted upon a vertical shaft having a bearingin the free endof a pivoted arm '64, which, by means of a spring 65, tends to press therollers 62. and 63 together. As the articles,sucl1 for example asletters or other mail-pieces, are carried forward upon the belt 24 inthe conduit 41, they are brought into contact with said rollers andadvanced thereby. As said mail pieces pass outwardly they are acted uponby an eccentric rotary stacking cam 66 of well known construction,mounted upon a vertical shaft, the rotation of which acts in the usualway to press them into a stack 67 against a follower 68 upon a stackingframe 69.

The conduit 40 leads to .a short conveyer belt 70 upon a correspondinglevel, which is in communication with like forwarding and a stackingrack 74. In like manner the conduits 39, 38 and 37 respectively lead tosimilar con veyer belts 75, 76 and 77. The belt 75 com- .municates withforwarding rolls 78, 79, a

vertical shafts 94, 96, 98 and 95, 97 and 99 in the manner clearly shownin Fig. 6, which shafts are provided with suitable sprocket wheels anddriven in unison by means of a sprocket chain 100, which is alsoarranged in like manner to drive the separating rolls and cams describedupon the opposite side of the machine. The belts 70, 75, 76 and 77 aredriven by means of a shaft 101, connected with the shaft upon which-theroller 25 is mounted, by means of a sprocket chain 102 and suitablesprocket-wheels The operation of my improved classifyin apparatus is asfollows: Each chute in each section or case is labeled or numbered torepresent a given State or district according to the most approvedclassification of those using it. A quantity of canceled mail-matter isthen delivered to an operator in charge of each section, who rapidlydeposits them according to their respective addresses, in chutescorresponding thereto, when they will be conveyed in the respectiveconduits to separating and stacking mechanism as described.

It will be noted that in the example illustrated there are four tiers ofstacking racks and six racks in each tier. Assuming each to represent aState, it follows that the mail for twenty-four States could beclassified with one apparatus. As the racks become filled the stackedmail therefrom can be transferred to appropriate sacks and will requireno further attention until redistributed therefrom upon arrival at itsdestination.

.The capacity of my improved apparatus may be varied indefinitely and itmay be used with or Without separating and stacking mechanismalthough Iprefer to employ those features. 1 .7

In Fig. 8, I have shown amodified construction in which the conveyingbelts, designated as 103, 104, 105 and 106 respectively, are placed oneabove the other in successive order between vertical side walls 107 and108. Above the belt 103 there is provided a series of conduits 109, 110,111, 112, 113 and 114, each of which is curved laterally in successiveorder as they approach the end of the belt, one half being preferablycurved to the right form eduction outlets 115, 116, 117, 118, 119

and the other half to the left, so as to and 120 respectively, leadingthrough suitable openings in the walls 107 and 108, into rooms orcompartments 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 and 126, each of which represents acertain State, district or destination. The belts 104, 105 and 106 aresuccessively shortened and are provided with conduits arranged in thesame manner so that the discharge of each conduit will lead to aseparate room or compartment, corresponding to those already described.Said rooms may or may not. be provided with stacking mechanism but Iprefer some means for arranging or bunching them in compact form. Thisarrangement of the belts and conduits enables '-a series of rooms orreceptacles to be located in successive. order upon opposite sides ofthe conveyers, thereby m1n1m1z1ng the space required.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 I have shown a modified construction intended toenable the separating clerks to continue the work of separation andclassification should it become necessary to arrest the action of themachine from any cause, such, for example,

as the breaking of a belt or other part-which would need to be repaired.This result may be accomplished by means of a series of pigeon holes ineach case so arranged in conjunction with the respective chutes that asthe mechanism of the apparatus is stopped the clerks in front of theseveral cases may continue the work of separation by depositing themailin properly classified pigeon holes arranged in proximity to saidchutes. In order to economize space, I prefer to make a portion at leastof said pigeon holes or boxes collapsible, although in some cases rigidboxes or compartments may be employed to advantage. For example, in thepanels 4 and 5, I have extended the side walls 127 and have therebyprovided for four open boxes or compartments 128 in the spaces betweenthe chutes 11. In the panels 6 and 7 respectively and also in the twopanels 10 I have provided for collapsible boxes which may be constructedas follows: Hinged to horizontal cross-bars 129 attached to the panels 6and 10 respectively, are doors or shelves 130 each of which is providedwith a flange or projection 131 arranged at right angles to the plane ofthe shelf and rigidly attached thereto at the-hinge so as to bearagainst the vertical face of thepa'rt' 129, when said shelf is inhorizontal position to form a stop and support said'shelf in the mannermore clearly represented in Fig. 11. Hinged to the inner face of each ofthe shelves 130, so as to extend across the same' from front to rear asshown at 132, are partition members 133 which are adapted to fold flatlyagainst said shelves when not in use as shown in Fig.

.Fig. 9. When, however, their use becomes necessary they are placedhorizontally as shown in Fig. 11 and the upper right hand portion ofFig. 9 and the members 133 placed vertically so as to form partitions orside walls as the case may be.

In the panel corresponding to the panel 7 of Fig. 1, short shelves 135are shown with members 136 hinged at the respective ends so as to foldnormally upon each other and when unfolded, to form side walls for therespective compartments.

The several compartments should be marked to conform to the desiredclassification so that as soon as the mechanism of the apparatus isarrested in its movement the reserve compartments may be utilized andthe classified destribution continued therein. The mail matter sodistributed may be re moved from time to time to the requisite points orin the event-of a brief stoppage it may be placed in the proper chutesas soon as the action of the apparatus is resumed.

' It is obvious that the. construction of my improved classifying-devicemay be greatly varied without departing from the principle involved andI do not wish to be limited to the specific details above set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by LettersPatent is 1. In a mail classifying apparatus, thecombination with a conveying belt, of a chute having a downwarddischarge portion narrowed at the mouth in a plane substantiallyparallel to the direction of movement of said conveying belt, the widthof said discharge portion being less than that of the spaceupon the beltto be utilized as a conduit, said chute having a relatively narrowdischarge opening leading in the direction of said movement and a shieldin the rear of said chute for laterally guiding articles moving uponsaid belt past said chute.

2. In a mail classifying apparatus, the combination with a substantiallyhorizontal conveying belt and means for actuating the same, of a chutearranged above and adjacent to said belt, said chute having a narrow,downwardly directed delivery opening arranged to discharge upon saidbelt, a space being iprovided upon said belt for the passage 0 mailpieces, and a substantially vertical rearwardly extended deflectorarranged at an angle to the edge of said belt to deflect mail-matterpast said chute.

3. In a mail classifying apparatus, the combination with a conveyingchannel having substantially vertical parallel walls for supportingmail-pieces upon their edges and a conveying belt forming the bottom ofsaid channel, of a chute having a delivery portion comprising wallsarranged to extend downwardly into said conveying channel in closeproximity to the surface of said belt, the width of said deliveryportion being less than that of said channel and a diagonally arrangeddeflector at the rear of said chute extending from one wall of thechannel to the edge of the chute to guide mail-pieces past said chute.

4. In a mail classifying apparatus, the combination with a conveyingchannel having substantially vertical parallel walls for supportingmail-pieces upon their edges and a conveying belt forming the bottom ofsaid channel, of a plurality of chutes common to said channel, eachchute having a delivery portion comprising walls arranged to extenddownwardly into said conveying channel in close proximity to the surfaceof said belt, the width of said delivery portion being less than that ofsaid channel and means at the rear of each of said chutes except thefirst, for deflecting mail pieces into the channel past said chutes.

5. In a mail classifying apparatus, the combination with a conveyingchannel having substantially vertical parallel walls for supportingmail-pieces upon their edges and a conveying belt forming the bottom ofsaid channel, of a plurality of chutes common to said channel, eachchute having a delivery portion extending downwardly into said conveyingbelt, the side walls of the portion within said channel beingsubstantially parallel, the width of said delivery portion being lessthan the width of said channel, the forward part of said deliveryportion being cut away to permit the free passage of the mail-piecesupon their edges and means at the rear of each of said chutes, exceptthat at the beginning of the series, for guiding mail-pieces through thechannel past said chutes.

6. In a mail classifying apparatus, the combination with a conveyingchannel having substantially vertical parallel walls for supportingmail-pieces upon their edges and a conveying-belt forming the bottom ofsaid channel, of a mail-chute having a substantially horizontalreceiving slot located adjacent to said channel, said chute having adelivery portion extending laterally and downwardly from said receivingslot into said conveying channel into close proximity to said conveyingbelt, the side walls of the portion within said channel being substan-'tially vertical and substantially parallel to In testimony whereof, Ihave signed this each other, while the distance between themspecification in the presence of twosubscribis greater than the Width ofsaid receivinging witnesses, this first day of October, 1910. 10

slot, said chute being open in the direction JAMES RE. 5 of movement ofsaid elt to permit said Witnesses:

mail pieces to be moved outwardly there- DAVID H. FLETCHER,

from upon the belt. JEN'NIE L. FIBRE.

